The wife and I try to do our music buying at a small independent shop about 175 miles from here, so we "save up" our purchases.

The store also carries vinyl and sponsors a local free outdoor music fest, so we're loyal.

Anyway, we're planning on buying:

Bryan Ferry, "Dylanesque." I hear he has a few turns a phrase that really impact the usual way we think of certain Dylan songs, so I'm looking forward to it, even though I never came to appreciate his cover of "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall."

Social Distortion's newest. I have a longstanding soft spot for Social D. (I also consider them country music.)

I heard the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a new EP.

I forgot to buy the newest Richard Thompson last trip, and someone told me that there is a Richard and Linda Thompson Live 1975 disc out?

Her band is indeed excellent. Scott Amendola is currently playingdrums with her. See if you can score a copy of his latest CD, "Believe" - it's awesome.

FWIW, Amendola is also the drummer for the Nels Cline Singers; Cline and his group are profiled in the current issue of Stereophile (Sept.). Cline also makes some mighty contributions on Amendola's "Believe."

Quote:Someone I neglected to mention, if you're a Latin music fan, is Ruben Blades - intelligent lyrics (if one speaks Spanish) and a sophisticated music style.

Hey Mike.Part of my re-discovery of the Fania label includes the really brilliant collaboration between Ruben Blades and Willie Colon, Siembra. I remember the album cover, as well as the songs, from when I was a kid. It was a family favorite.

Are you familiar with it? It includes the classics "Plastico" and "Pedro Navaja."

Quote:Hey Mike.Part of my re-discovery of the Fania label includes the really brilliant collaboration between Ruben Blades and Willie Colon, Siembra. I remember the album cover, as well as the songs, from when I was a kid. It was a family favorite.

Are you familiar with it? It includes the classics "Plastico" and "Pedro Navaja."

Stephen,

Admittedly, my exposure to and knowledge of Latin music and its' artists is limited. I first became familiar with Blades about 15 years ago when I saw him perform on a Public TV channel. (I never was able to find the tune he did on any record.)

I know of the collaboration with Willie Colon but haven't heard any of the songs. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll be sure to try and find it.

I keep hearing rumors of a new McCoy Tyner Album, where he is joined by a bunch of different guitarists, including Derek Trucks, John Scofield, etc.. and they cover Coltrane tunes. Sounds interesting and fun!

I have a hybrid SACD on order. It's the Mercury Living Presence release of Janos Starker playing all six of Bach's unaccompanied cello suites. It's the first music to be purchased specifically to enjoy on my new Oppo.

Hey Mike.Part of my re-discovery of the Fania label includes the really brilliant collaboration between Ruben Blades and Willie Colon... Are you familiar with it? It includes the classics "Plastico" and "Pedro Navaja."

Stephen,

I just recently acquired "Siembra"...marvelous brass section and Wille Colon's trombone playing was top notch.I recall hearing "Pedro Navaja" on a local college station, in the late '70's...didn't realize, at the time, that it was Blades singing. "Metiendo Mano" was another Blades/Colon release worth buying.

Another worthwhile CD, by Cooder, is "Mambo Sinuendo". It's a collaboration with Manuel Galban (of Buena Vista Social Club). Very little on vocals, which was fine with me. At times it was like dueling strings other times they played in unison. Real Latin music, it was recorded in Havana...Jim Keltner played drums. A most worthwhile CD.